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Formula One: Ferrari's Montezemolo to run for Italian presidency?

December 21, 2011

Ferrari cheif Luca di Montezemolo denies he has ambitions to be president of Italy. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo has stirred the pot in Italy with reports saying he will run for the Italian presidency in 2013, but Montezemolo himself has denied tales of his presidential ambitions.

Montezemolo has made it known that he wants to see economic and structural reform in his homeland. The Italian also has repeatedly hinted at his political yearnings.

In February, he told the media that he wished to be reborn as a politician. In December 2010, he was reported to be considering leaving the carmaker to take a senior position in the coalition to oust then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi--who was relieved of his position on Nov. 16 and replaced by incumbent Mario Monti.

Reports of Montezemolo's presidential ambitions began with an open letter to Italia Futura, the center-left industrial think tank that the head of Ferrari created in 2009. In his letter, Montezemolo attacked Italy's current government for being paralyzed by internal squabbles and personal struggles that have brought Italy close to the point of no return. He also wrote that the way to rescue Italy is to reform the welfare system, privatize a number of public assets and shift the tax burden from the laborers to the wealthy.

Here's how he signed the letter: "Luca di Montezemolo, future president of Italy." Nothing announces one's presidential ambitions more then claiming that he is the future president.

Montezemolo's credentials include being at the helm of Ferrari for the past 20 years, being a member of Italy's aristocracy and being a lawyer. He coordinated the World Cup while it was in Italy and has had repeated political, and public, debates with the FIA.

The Italian also has been vital to the launch of Europe's first privately funded high-speed train service, Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori. The service will begin in March and use trains, dubbed Italo, that are painted Ferrari red and can reach speeds of more than 200 mph.

But Montezemolo shot down his presumed presidential ambitions during a media event at Fiorano, Ferrari's private racetrack.

"Going into politics? No I'm with Ferrari," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Italy's elections are scheduled for 2013, so there is plenty of time for Montezemolo to change his mind and officially throw his hat into the ring--especially since his 40,000-strong Italia Futura could easily become a political party.